Islam encourages art: Ghamidi

Religious scholar says Muslims used to be peerless in calligraphy, painting

Islam has always encouraged art and creativity, and Muslims should learn and practise such subjects as art to promote the message of God, renowned religious scholar Prof Javed Ahmad Ghamidi said on Friday.

He was delivering a lecture on ‘Art and Islam’ during the opening ceremony of an exhibition of calligraphic paintings at the Ejaz Art Gallery. He said Muslims had created masterpieces of art and civilisation in the past and they were peerless in subjects like calligraphy and paintings along with other subjects related to fine arts and sciences. Ghamidi said Islam only forbade such knowledge that promoted vulgarity and unethical practices. He said such vulgar art forms were harmful for all humans.

The exhibition will remain open until Eidul Fitr. The work of 14 artists is being displayed in the show.